Association of Jewish Yemenites in the United States Inc.

אגודת היהודים התימנים בארצות הברית

WHAT MAKES THE JEWISH YEMENITE TRADITION SPECIAL ? * The Jewish Yemenite prayer book (the "Tiklal") is completely different from
the Ashkenazi and Sephardic prayer books. rMb"M (Maimonides) always
referred to the text in the Yemenite prayer book.
* The pronunciation of all Hebrew prayers, Torah reading, etc.,used by
Yemenite Jews, is believed to be the pronunciation used by the Jews in the First
Temple era.
* There is no established cantor or Torah Reader (Baal Kore) in the synagogue.
Every Shabbat or holiday the Rabbi invites congregants to serve as cantors
or Torah Readers.
* The Jewish Yemenite ancient tradition is rich with literature and poetry.
The greatest Yemenite poet, Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, J.O.B.M., wrote religious
songs, reflecting the longing of the Jews of Yemen for Jerusalem, and
Yemenite folk songs.
* The Yemenite culture is a way of life which affects every activity, day and
night, at home or school, and in the synagogue.

EVERY JEW IN THE USA IS WELCOME TO BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR ASSOCIATION,AND
PARTICIPATE IN ANY OR ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES * You are invited to participate in our Association's activities,
for which there is no fee. If, however, you make a nominal financial
contribution to our Association, you will enjoy the following benefits:
- Information, mailed to your house, about all of our activities
- Newsletters
- Discounts on participation in holiday programs
- Priority in buying books having limited availability.
- Sunday school for children - teaching the weekly portion of the Torah
- Bar Mitzvah program

WHY YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD TO BE A YEMENITE JEW? - You are member of the ancient Jewish tribe who had the insight to preserve
the proverbial light of the Pentateuch, in the full sense of its glory,
throughout 2000 years of exile.
- The Yemenite Jews have always taken their full share in the development of
the Jewish religion and the Jewish culture. They have preserved many ancient
Jewish religious ideas and practices. Famous scholars asserted that to
understand the laws of the Mishna and Talmud, one has to live with Yemenite
Jews.
- It is also known that many Yemenite Jews are great scholars of Jewish
knowledge, individuals who know by heart the Torah, the prayers, and large
portions of Jewish literature.
-The Yemenite Hebrew has been studied by researchers many of whom believe
it to contain the most ancient phonetic and grammatical features, from the
early days of the first Temple. Many ancient Hebrew manuscripts were copied and
preserved in Yemen. The Yemenite community is the most literate of all
Jewish communities when it comes to the Bible and the prayers.
- Yemenite wedding customs, which include the "henna" ceremony are nowadays
accepted and combined with Sephardi and Ashkenazi rituals
- The Yemenite culture and art are especially famous for their garments and
jewelry. The Yemenite embroidery, and of course the Yemenite food. The craft
of weaving - the Yemenite weavers wove fabrics, carpets, and also prayer
shawls
- Musical and artistic talents of the Yemenite Jewry are impressively
represented. The "Yemenite step" is danced successfully in many Israeli folk
dances. The Yemenite melodies and singers are today the most prominent
elements in the Jewish and Israeli music.